Taboo Words Vs. Social Deixis: A sociolinguistic Analysis of La Justice or The Cock that Crew: A Play from the Theatre of Ridiculous

Abstract

Linguistic taboos exist in most cultures. Tabooed words are generally being culturespecific
and relating to bodily functions or aspects of a culture that are sacred. Such words are
avoided, considered inappropriate and loaded with affective meaning and failing to adhere to.
Strict rules, often, governing their use and lead to punishment or public shame. These taboo
words can be used as a way of violating social deixis represented by four types of honorifics;
addressee, referent, bystander, and finally setting honorifics. This paper shows how these
taboo words are used in Kenneth Bernard's play La Justice or The Cock that Crew from the
theatre of the Ridiculous as means of violating social deixis in its four types. The result shows
a higher frequency of violating addressee honorifics as the actors use too many taboo words
in interacting with each other. Bernard, the play writer, aims at showing the truth about the
world we live in, a world of arbitrary ruthless powers, of butchers and helpless victims.
Key words: taboo, social deixis, honorifics, Kenneth Bernard, theatre of ridiculous